1.

But that which most I wonder at, which most

I did esteem my Bliss, which most I boast

And ever shall applaud, is, that within

I felt no Stain, no Spot of Sin.

No Darkness then did over-shade,

But all within was pure and bright,

No Guilt did crush, nor Fear invade,

But all my Soul was full of Light.

A joyful Sense exempt from Fear

Is all I can remember;

The very Night to me was clear,

‘Twas Summer in December.

2.

A serious Meditation did employ

My Soul within, which, taken up with Joy,

Did seem no outward thing to note, but fly

All Objects that do feed the Ey:

While it those very Objects did

Admire, and prize, and prais, and lov,

Which in their Glory most are hid;

Which Presence only doth remov:

Their constant daily Presence I

Rejoicing at did see;

And that which takes them from the Ey

Of others, offer'd them to me.

3.

No inward Stain inclin'd my Will

To Avarice or Pride: My Soul was still

With Admiration fill'd; no Lust nor Strife

Polluted then my Infant-Life.

No Fraud nor Anger in me mov'd,

No Malice, Jealousy, or Spight;

All that I saw I truly lov'd.

Contentment only and Delight

Were in my Soul. O Hev'n, what Bliss

Did I enjoy and feel!

What powerful Delight did this

Inspire! For this I daily kneel.

4.

Whether it be that Nature is so pure,

And Custom only vicious; or to cure

Its Depravation, God did Guilt remov

To fix in me a Sense of's Lov

So early; or that 'twas one Day

Wherin this Happiness I found,

Whose Strength and Brightness so do ray

That still it seems me to surround:

So early; or that 'twas one Day

Wherin this Happiness I found,

Whose Strength and Brightness so do ray

That still it seems me to surround:

What e'r it was, it is a Light

So endless unto me,

That I a World of tru Delight

Did then, and to this day do, see.